Extra Witchy by Ann Aguirre

This third installment in the Fix-it Witches series features Leanne Vanderpol, a witch with political ambitions and Trevor Montgomery a handsome underachiever.  While mostly lighthearted, the book does deal with Trevor's depression and with some family issues that affect them both.  I enjoyed the growing friendships in the book and seeing how the characters were able to overcome their issues as love conquers all. 

Fired Up about Reproductive Rights by Jane Kirby

 

This book gives a well-researched timeline of many of the various attacks on women's reproductive rights.  It goes far beyond abortion and includes information about eugenics and population control.  I think this book is a must read for anyone who is researching these topics and it is quite timely at the moment. I listened to the audio version of the book, which is well done.

Playing with Myself by Randy Rainbow

 

I was already a fan of Randy Rainbow and this interesting and very funny memoir has made me even more of a fan of his.  I enjoyed learning about his family and the work that he put into his career.  I highly recommend the book. 

Enola Holmes and the Elegant Escapade by Nancy Springer

 

In this installment of the chronicles of Enola Holmes, she attempts to save her friend Lady Cecily from her father, who has taken her captive in a world where women have no rights of their own at all.  Although her brother, Sherlock, becomes involved, it is Enola who is the brains behind the escapade that includes secret codes and disguises.

The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin

Lenni is seventeen years old and Margot is 83.  Together, they are 100.  They meet in a hospital where Lenni is on the terminal ward and Margot is a heart patient.  Lenni tells most of the story as first she meets Father Arthur, who she befriends and tortures with her many irreverent questions and observations. When she asks him why she is dying and he tells her that only God can answer that question, Lenni replies "That's the biggest pile of crap I have ever heard.  I'm dying here!  And I have come to one of God's designated spokespeople with a really important question, and you refer me back to him?  I tried him already, but I didn't get an answer."  Lenni's wisdom includes statemens like "Dying isn't brave,... it's accidental.  I'm not brave, I'm just not dead yet."  After meeting Margot, Lenni befriends her and together they begin an art project - to make one hundred paintings in the hospital art class - one for each year of their lives.  So Margot shares her story with Lenni and we learn about her life in bits and pieces as she shares the stories of her paintings with Lenni. The story is funny and heartbreaking and I highly recommend it.  And finally, in the words of Lenni, "putting a church inside a hospital is like looking at an oil painting to see what the weather will be like." 

A Face for Picasso: Coming of Age with Crouzon Syndrome by Ariel Henley

In this touching memoir, Ariel details the horrors of growing up with "Crouzon syndrome -- a rare condition where the bones in the head fuse prematurely. " She tells about the trauma and PTSD from having to have multiple surgeries throughout her life along with her twin sister, who has the same syndrome.  Along with the physical trauma they suffered the psychological trauma of being called monsters, looked upon as having lower intelligence, and of looking in the mirror and seeing a stranger after surgeries that were necessary to keep them alive and to try to make them look more "normal".  The story is well written and I highly recommend it.

Enchanting Sarah Greenberg by Jennifer Inglis

In this enchanting and very funny story, 39 year old Sarah Greenberg suddenly discovers that she can do magic.  Her family informs her that it is Magyck and that her family, on her father's side is made up of Magycians.  Combining magic and Jewish mythology, and food, the story revolves around Sarah and her Magyckal family and friends trying to save the family's magic shop from an evil woman named Zondra who wants to take over the store and it's magyckal resources.  The story is a fun, lighthearted read and I enjoyed it very much.